a portion of a mural at the Hawaii Convention Center
Good Day, God!
Sunday evening . . . the long awaited conference is over . . . leaving behind so many useful ideas and so many memories. But, it isn’t really so much about useful as it is about relational.
This is a chance to see people that I only see once a year. It is a chance to be together in prayer on the Prayer Team with friends from other churches and other denominations. Putting aside differences that have divided people for years, we focused on what unites us.
This evening my husband Kit and I went to hear Tony Campolo talk at the First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu. Tony spoke at the conference and this was one more chance to hear him before he flew home. We both love Tony Campolo even though we are always challenged by him. Or maybe we love him because he challenges us.
Being “challenged” doesn’t happen very often, God. Not nearly often enough. Because what we call “Christianity” has been filtered through 1,950 years of CULTURE! It has been Americanized to fit comfortably with Our Values. I fear, it fits far too comfortably.
Looking at this photo of Hawaiian voyaging canoes makes me think about the difficulties of transmitting The Message from one culture to another. As St. Paul said, “we have this treasure in earthenware vessels.” Sigh. It is hard work, God, trying to get the Message from one culture to another — or even from one generation to another.
Tony talked about Red Letter Christians — mostly young people who focus on following the Words of Jesus in the Gospels. Jesus speaks to our Hearts. Please help me, God, to spend TIME in His Words — not just to read them but to let them soak in.
Story teller,
Hi Margie,
I found, and am enjoying, your blog. Did you give me the name Steve Foust? More on him?
Hi Kevin, I’m been reading your essays — loved the Fitzgerald one! Alas, I know nothing about Steve Foust. Say hi to Carol!